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John Tory bid for Toronto mayor building steam

John Tory’s burgeoning mayoral bid is heating up with influential Progressive Conservatives, Liberals, and New Democrats meeting to map out a post-Rob Ford Toronto.

John Tory, seen during Toronto's Pride Week in June, is being urged by politicians and backroom operatives of every political party to run for mayor in 2014. (Steve Russell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

A two-part, two-hour campaign session Monday night at the Bloor Street East offices of FleishmanHillard was the clearest signal yet that Tory will run in next October’s municipal election.

There were about 60 people in attendance, including current and former Liberal and Conservative cabinet ministers, NDP strategists, city hall movers and shakers, communications experts, and civic activists from downtown, Etobicoke, East York, North York and Scarborough.

Tory, for his part, said Thursday that he was in Montreal attending a board meeting so wasn’t privy to any campaign deliberations.

“There are quite a few people who would like to see me run and who want to help and even I heard there was a meeting, but I didn’t organize it, didn’t ask anyone to organize it and I wasn’t even in the city,” he said.

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The respected CivicAction chair, Newstalk 1010 radio host, and former provincial Conservative leader was runner-up to former mayor David Miller in the 2003 municipal race.

In the wake of Ford’s crack cocaine use, which has brought unprecedented negative international media attention to Toronto, pressure has mounted for Tory to run.

“Never before has Toronto so needed a solid, ethical leader,” said Duguid, who was at the meeting but declined to discuss what was said.

“John is a quality, ethical guy with the ultimate integrity, who you can trust,” the Liberal minister said.

Others in attendance at the session co-organized by Conservative activist John Capobianco and veteran Liberal insider Bob Richardson included PC Party president Richard Ciano, former Tory attorney general David Young, former deputy mayor Case Ootes, and a slew of others from all three major parties.

“The people that were there were just pumped,” said Capobianco, a long-time Ford family pal.

“They are friends. What’s sad about this is I think Rob should get some counsel. It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this. We just have to turn the page,” he said.

Richardson said his “phone has been ringing off the hook.”

“There is very strong support for his candidacy if he (Tory) decided to run. He had very, very strong support in 2003. Those supporters are raring to go and there is a whole raft of new people,” said the long-time Liberal operative.

He stressed Monday’s “packed” meeting was held because “friends and supporters of John Tory wanted to get together and say ‘hey, we need to move forward here and that’s exactly what happened.’ ”

So far, Councillor Karen Stintz, who withdrew from the 2010 mayoralty race because she thought Tory might run then, and former budget chair David Soknacki are planning to run.

NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) is also quietly building a formidable organization and is expected to seek the city’s top job.

A candidate would need to bring in between $1.5 million to $2 million to mount a serious campaign.

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